National Alliance for Human Rights

(NAHR)

Press Advisory

Human Rights Activists Protest Mexican President Vicente Foxs Use of Force in Oaxaca

October 30, 2006



Today, Monday, October 30, the National Alliance for Human Rights (NAHR), a human rights, social justice, and political empowerment network of persons and organizations is holding a protest /press conference at Noon in front of the Mexican Consulate in San Bernardino, located at 293 N. D Street, in protest against Mexicos President Vicente Foxs decision use of the federal police (PFP- la Policia Federal Preventiva) in the storming of the city of Oaxaca, yesterday, Sunday.

A delegation of the NAHR, while in Mexico attending Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador National Democratic Convention in Mexico City on September 17, traveled to the city of Oaxaca to lend support to the peoples struggle to oust Governor Ulises Ruiz Ortiz and effectuate needed social change among the states impoverished masses.

NAHR joins in solidarity with scores of concerned groups and persons from throughout California and the country in protesting against the use of armed force by President Vicente Fox to resolve the nearly five-month old crisis. Todays protests at various Mexican Consulates, seek to pressure President Fox to recall-off the federal police, reject the use of force, and resolve the escalating Oaxacan Crisis via negotiations.

According to NAHR Coordinator Armando Navarro, As a result of the visit to Oaxaca, the NAHR has maintained contact with APPO, la Asamblea Popular de los Pueblos de Oaxaca. Impelled by a profound spirit of solidarity with APPO, the teachers, and the people of Oaxaca, NAHR emphatically denounces the armed incursion by the federal police into Oaxaca.

We are voicing a profound sense of urgency that President Fox instead of resorting to a negotiated settlement is opting for the use armed force, which now threatens Mexicos stability. Navarro added, The rapidly escalating unrest in Oaxaca has reached such a precarious level that it could trigger a violent contagion throughout Mexico, ultimately precipitating a violent and bloody revolution.